The Art of Artificial Silk

Nottingham: Courtaulds Ltd, 1925. First Edition. Enchanting catalogue of 1920's women's fashion and textiles for home furnishings and interiors.

"Beautiful frocks, like pictures, need an appropriate frame to set off their loveliness, and Courtaulds, whose marvellous development of Artificial Silk has resulted in the existence of the beautiful materials I hve endeavoured to describe to you in this little book, have also brought their years of experience in the manufacture and perfecting of this achievement, to bear upon the heavier forms of fabric necessary for furnishing processes.

Surely, Alladin, when first his gaze alighted on those glistening treasures within the magic cave, felt much as I did when I viewed the modern storehouse of wonder, where are so artistically displayed, Courtauld's fabrics for the home. The room was ablaze with colour, rich Brocade and slim Taffeta Hangings, Damask and Tapestry - and what seemed, if possible, more exquisite than all the others, a reproduction of red Chinese lacquer - perfect in every detail - yet with not a single metallic thread in its gorgeous celestial luxury of design. The luminous effect of the golden dragons with which it was adorned, was achieved solely by the golden colour that Courtaulds have secured with their Artificial Silk, and as I learned that every fibre throughout this beautiful fabric was of that same Artificial Silk, it seemed proof positive of the superiority of the artificial over the real." [Page 30]. Quarto, bound in decorated boards with original ties, 31 pages, 1 double-page colour illustration and 10 full-page colour photographic illustations, transparent patterned tissue guards, illuminated capitals, pictorial borders, decorative endpapers, mild spray of spotting to front cover only, internally clear and bright, a very good copy.